NHS Faces Staffing Crisis as Foreign Nurses Plan to Quit Britain

Strategic Insights -

Almost half of foreign nurses are planning to quit Sir Keir Starmer's Britain due to its "hostile" immigration policy, threatening a staffing crisis in the NHS and social care. A survey of over 3,000 internationally educated NHS nurses found that nearly 42% blamed racism and Britain's unwelcoming attitude towards foreigners for wanting to leave. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that without overseas staff, NHS services "simply could not run." The RCN is calling on the government to waive red tape for nurses moving to Britain from abroad and grant indefinite leave to remain.

Key Takeaways:

  • 55,000 international NHS nurses plan to leave Britain due to the country's "hostile" immigration policy.
  • 42% of foreign nurses blame racism and Britain's unwelcoming attitude for wanting to leave.
  • 64% of international nurses have experienced discrimination since moving to the UK, and nearly half (46%) have experienced racism at work.
  • The RCN has warned that up to 55,000 migrant nursing staff could leave the country, threatening a staffing crisis in the NHS and social care.
  • The RCN is calling for NHS nurses to be granted indefinite leave to remain and fast-track routes to settle in the UK.
  • The government's new immigration policies, including increasing the level of English required and doubling the time before migrants can settle permanently in the UK, could do "great damage to key services."
  • 34,000 nursing vacancies exist across the UK, and there are as many as 131,000 vacancies in social care in England alone.

Statistics:

  • 42% of foreign nurses plan to leave Britain due to racism and Britain's unwelcoming attitude.
  • 64% of international nurses have experienced discrimination since moving to the UK.
  • 46% of international nurses have experienced racism at work.
  • 55,000 migrant nursing staff could leave the country, threatening a staffing crisis in the NHS and social care.
  • 34,000 nursing vacancies exist across the UK.
  • 131,000 vacancies in social care exist in England alone.
  • In the six months to September 2024, a third more internationally educated nurses left the UK register than in the same period the previous year.

Sources:

  • Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
  • Unreciprocated Care report
  • The Home Office

The RCN's Unreciprocated Care report